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Bulldogs legend Terry Lamb sends club into COVID-19 lockdown

Canterbury have dodged a bullet and will be allowed to return to training after club legend Terry Lamb was cleared of coronavirus on Friday.

Bulldogs great Terry Lamb greets Kieran Foran with a banned handshake. Picture: AAP/Joel Carrett
Bulldogs great Terry Lamb greets Kieran Foran with a banned handshake. Picture: AAP/Joel Carrett

Bulldogs great Terry Lamb has been cleared of coronavirus enabling Canterbury to resume training on Saturday.

The club was told they were unable to train today after Lamb shook-hands with a host of players and officials at their Belmore headquarters. The internacion was in breach of the NRL’s bio-security policy.

However, Lamb was cleared on Friday.

Lamb apologised for the error.

“I would like to apologise to the Bulldogs and the NRL for breaching COVID protocols at training yesterday,” Lamb said. “I was over excited about getting to Belmore again and wanting to wish Kieran Foran all the best for his 200th game and in doing so I breached the protocols by shaking the hands of several players to wish them all the best.”

Canterbury were hit with a suspended $25,000 fine by the NRL.

In the days of the NRL’s strict COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, Lamb’s off-the-cuff decision to waltz in and start shaking hands with several players including star playmaker Kieran Foran, Will Hopoate and coach Dean Pay was a serious ‘no no’.

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Bulldogs great Terry Lamb greets Kieran Foran with a banned handshake. Picture: AAP/Joel Carrett
Bulldogs great Terry Lamb greets Kieran Foran with a banned handshake. Picture: AAP/Joel Carrett

Lamb had turned up to give a jumper to the club to mark Foran’s 200th game this weekend — and when he was there he also decided to drop in on the playing group.

While he didn’t enter the clean zone “bubble” — restricted to players and immediate staff — Lamb’s actions were off limits and immediately reported to the governing body.

Terry Lamb watches over Kieran Foran at training. Picture: AAP/Joel Carrett
Terry Lamb watches over Kieran Foran at training. Picture: AAP/Joel Carrett

NRL players are entitled to seek essential services but this was clearly overstepping the boundaries.

While it’s a tough school for an old footy legend like Lamb, it’s also the way of the new world.

And a moment the Bulldogs could have lived without in hindsight ahead of a crucial clash as pressure mounts after three straight defeats.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/bulldogs/bulldogs-legend-terry-lamb-sends-club-into-covid19-lockdown/news-story/caccd4fc91163f0d112f7a939751760a